Welcome to the Quilpie Shire, a stunning Outback region in South West Queensland that is steeped with a rich pioneering and prehistoric history.
From the centre hub of Quilpie, you will discover Cheepie to the east, Adavale to the north, Toompine to the south and Eromanga, the furthest town from the sea, to the west.
The region is also renowned for its ancient discoveries; this includes the most famous of all the super sauropods. Not just any sauropod – the mighty titanosaur sauropod. At the Eromanga Natural History Museum you will meet a couple of local lads called Cooper and George, their bones are located at the Museum and are the largest bones of any dinosaur so far discovered in Australia. Eromanga is also where you will learn about megafauna. If you aren’t sure what megafauna are, then picture giant kangaroos and wombats. See them all at the Eromanga Natural History Museum.
The Powerhouse Museum shares the story of how Quilpie was the first town to have a powerhouse as a result of a government scheme and still houses one of the original diesel engines from 1952. Discover how Quilpie became the accidental landing location for the famous aviatrix Amy Johnson at the Quilpie airport, and the history of the Woolscour which was originally located on the site.
Adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre is the Quilpie Shire Military History Museum that commemorates the military story. If rail history is more your interest the Rail Museum located in Mural Park will share the story including how it became the end of the line.
Take your seat on the expansive green space in front of the supersized outdoor screen at the Visitor Information Centre for the Quilpeta Night Show operating select evenings from April to October, bookings essential. Meet your digital host, Q the Stone Curlew, who will guide you through an interactive journey of the story of Quilpie stepping back some 95 million years ago. Along the way you’ll meet giant Titanosaurs Cooper and George and learn about the Quilpie’s First Nation Maranganji people. You’ll discover the colourful Boulder Opal story and early pastoral settlements. It’s a wonderful introduction to Quilpie, its people and the beauty of the Channel Country.
Other things to do in the Quilpie Shire include visiting the life-size Dino sign photo opportunity in Eromanga, high tea at Elegant Emu in Adavale, wandering the local art scene at Lyn Barnes Outback Art or Quilpie Shire Gallery and a soak in an Artesian Spa at the Channel Country Tourist Park.
Quilpie Shire is famous for boulder opal and it is celebrated in the most magical of ways with the opal altar, lectern and font at St. Finbarr’s Church. The church is always open and is a must to see while in Quilpie.
The outback is famous for those breath-taking sunsets. In the Quilpie region you are spoilt for choice – you can capture a sunset just about anywhere, but imagine yourself perched atop a rugged rocky summit with nibbles and drinks ready to toast the glorious outback sunset. Imagine no more, located around 6.5km from downtown Quilpie is Baldy Top Lookout. With a 10-minute climb to the crest, the 360 degree views will make you smile. If a climb is not your thing, head to Lake Houdraman aka ‘The Lake’, which is popular with birdwatchers and serenity seekers alike.
Adavale (located 96kms north) of Quilpie is the gateway to three incredible National Parks, the more well-known being Hell Hole National Park. Picture rugged gorges framed by cliffs carved out over millions of years by the Powell and Spencer creeks. With two swimming holes, it is a great place to explore or stroll along the plateau high above the creek. Mariala National Park is where soft Mulga grows on deep red soils in the park’s east and hard Mulga grows on the ranges. With some 140 species of birds and 27 mammals, Mariala is a popular park for nature-based activities. Idalia National Park is accessible via Blackall and with its amazing rugged escarpments and pastoral history is well worth the trip.
It’s rare, beautiful and found right here in the Quilpie region! The Boulder Opal occurs in a 700km long belt stretching between Winton and Quilpie. When in Quilpie call into the Visitor Information Centre and they will direct you to the opal fossicking area and where you can maybe find your forever treasure.
Adavale is the oldest town in the Quilpie Shire and is located 96km north of Quilpie. It was once the central town of this area and plays an important part in the history of the Quilpie Shire. See the Outdoor Museum and the Police Hut Museum to learn about some of their intriguing history. Community spirit and town pride are strong in this tiny outback town so call into the Adavale Pub and have a chat to the locals about the history and stories of the Adavale area.
Eromanga is 108km west of Quilpie and is famous for being the furthest town from the sea in Australia. This part of the world has also become known for a significant discovery of dinosaur bones and home to the largest dinosaur found in Australia … “Cooper”. The Eromanga Natural History Museum runs tours daily, a must for all dinosaur enthusiasts. While you’re in town, visit the Object Theatre to hear stories told by locals and get a feeling for the rich history of this outback town.
The Royal Hotel is the keeper of the key for entry into the Object Theatre and also has some tourist information available. The mud-and-brick structure was one of the original buildings of the Cobb and Co route and opened its doors in 1885 … so even if you’re not planning to stay the night, call in for a drink so you can toast the longevity of this little outback town. A self-guided walk with interpretive signage of the historic sites is a good follow-up to your visit to the theatre.
Eromanga Natural History Museum, located 3km from Eromanga, is a site dedicated to prehistoric preservation. The most famous find, Australotitan cooperensis, “Cooper”, provided a phenomenal starting point as it was the largest dinosaur found in Australia and of the top 10 largest in the world.
Add to the original finds exciting megafauna and flora and there’s more than enough to keep you enthralled during the hour-long tour which is offered at the centre and which brings an amazing timeline to life right before your eyes—100 million years in 60 minutes.
The South Western Hotel, locally known as the Tooompine Hotel, (circa 1893) is all that remains of what was a bustling frontier opal town of Toompine. The old Cobb & Co staging post became the stomping ground for dusty miners and pioneering pastoralists. The pub is open and trading seven days a week. They serve barista coffee, along with cake, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Cheepie is the smallest of the Quilpie Shire towns with a population of just one. For a short time from 1914, Cheepie was the railhead from Charleville and at its peak was a hive of activity. Take a detour between Charleville and Quilpie and take a step back in time to this once flourishing town.
May 10 — Quilpie Cup
June 14-15 — Tooompine Polocrosse Carnivale
June 21-22 — Quilpie Polocrosse Carnival
September 12-13 – Quilpie & District Show & Rodeo
September 27-28 — Quilpie Motorbike Gymkhana & Enduro
November 15 — Christmas in the Gallery
Quilpie Visitor Information Centre
Phone (within Australia) 07 4656 0540
